During the market decline of 1997, only 20% of the Investment Advisors surveyed called their top 100 clients. The reason they gave (75%) was putting out fires. Why did that happen? Lack of discipline? Focus? I don’t think so.
From my book cover and other blogs you have learned that I am a Naval Aviator. I had a chance to share a round of golf with a famous Naval Aviator that explained it best to me.
He had just finished a bombing run on an island called Chi Chi Jima in the South Pacific, when he got hit by enemy fire. His cockpit filled with smoke and his wing was on fire. I asked, “What were you thinking about at the time?” He said, “Rob, I didn’t have time to think. I just followed my procedures. I notified my skipper that I was going down, headed the plane out to sea and away from the island, put it in a slight climb which slowed it down, notified my crew to bail out and got out.” He was later rescued by the submarine USS Finback, received the Navy Cross for valor, and went on the fly 54 more missions. This 19 year old grew up to be our 41st President whose name is George Herbert Walker Bush.
George told us that the Japanese on that particular island were known to kill and eat captured American pilots
George later joked with Barbara that if he had been picked up by the Japanese, instead of getting a husband, the Japanese Commanding Officer might have had pâté.
So what saved George Bush? Luck? Yes, but he contends it was his training. The check lists and procedures that every Naval Aviator learns. These become sacred rituals of flight. As a Supernova Advisor you will learn how to create the same passion for your new rituals and how they will work to help you put out your cockpit fires.